Death toll on Georgia Highways continues to climb

"I think with the way traffic is in Atlanta a little dangerous," driver Andrew Delosky said.

Dangerous in Atlanta and across the state. Georgia State Patrol recorded ten fatal crashes where eleven people died over the New Year Holiday weekend from Friday December 30th to Monday January 2nd.

"I'm definitely disappointed in the number of fatalities we've had in all of 2016 which has now crossed the 1500 threshold and that's a preliminary number subject to change," Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety Harris Blackwood said.

According to his office, fatal crashes are on the rise. In 2014, there were 1170 fatalities. That number jumped in 2015 to 1432. 2016 has seen 1500 so far. Already in this new year of 2017, GDOT has recorded at least 9 fatal crashes.

According to Harris, stats are showing more crashes are happening because of distracted driving which includes texting.

"People are running into structures, they are running into other cars, they are departing the roadway, crossing the center line and all those are symptomatic of distracted driving particularly texting," Blackwood said.

His office just launched a PSA campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of texting and driving.

A message some people already understand.

"Anytime time anyone is distracted behind a two ton vehicle it's always a danger," driver Famous Jackson said.

Youngstown State University student Albert Maruna was caught red-handed and arrested this week after he allegedly attempted to have sex with a 15-year-old boy, who turned out to be an undercover officer.

Youngstown State University student Albert Maruna was caught red-handed and arrested this week after he allegedly attempted to have sex with a 15-year-old boy, who turned out to be an undercover officer.